RI.10.1/RI.10.2
11. What is the central idea of the text?
A. Boredom arises when people do not have enough to do.
B. Boredom is associated with youth and a state of emotional immaturity.
C. Boredom is a universal feeling documented in every culture.
D. Boredom leads to unexpected observations and new interests.
D. Boredom leads to unexpected observations and new interests.
Read Paragraph 3 below:
It is well known that emotions fade over time [44–46] (see [47] for a review), becoming less
intense. Once a goal is accomplished (happiness), blocked (anger), threatened (anxiety), or lost
(sadness), and has been in such a state long enough for the emotional response to begin to fade, we
suggest that the emotional system signals that it is time to move on to other pursuits. Boredom, we
propose, is that signal. Boredom would occur as intense or weak reactions fade. The time required for
boredom to ensue would be determined by the duration of a reaction. Consider, for example, the
experience of happiness after a goal is attained [31]. Depending on how important the goal was, one
might spend a short time (e.g., after being gifted a balloon) or a long time (e.g., after marrying a soul
mate) basking in the happiness created by accomplishing that goal. But even emotional responses to
important events are short-lived [24], and affective intensity reduces with time and exposure [44], so
the state of happiness would not persist indefinitely. After a honeymoon, eventually the intensity of
happiness would fade, boredom with lounging around and communicating with one person would
begin to intrude, and other goal pursuits would be taken up (e.g., returning to work).
Even the
experience of intense fear caused by a potential threat to life could fade as the threat persists, shifting
attention to other concerns. Consider, for example, a skydiver that initially feels mind-numbing fear as
they begin to fall. As the fall persists, the skydiver‘s experience may become similar to Alice‘s fall
down the well - they begin to notice their surroundings, perhaps the beautiful view and perspective that
this position affords. We do not argue that one would necessarily experience boredom in this situation,
but rather believe this common experience illustrates how attention can shift as emotional intensity
begins to fade, even for very intense emotion. Because emotions are part and parcel of effective goal
pursuit, there would be no motivation to pursue new goals if emotions did not fade over time, allowing
for disengagement from that goal. That is, an emotional state is only functional if it ceases to persist.
Always being happy, angry, sad or afraid about the same goal would have little adaptive value. As the
intensity of these (and other) emotions begins to subside, boredom arises to indicate a new goal should
be pursued and motivate responses to switch goals.
----
15. How is paragraph 3 significant to the author's claims about boredom?
A. It provides examples of negative situations in which boredom may rise.
B. It explains the function of boredom as a motivator for goal pursuits.
C. It expresses the level of difficulty in extracting oneself from a state of boredom.
D. It suggests solutions for how people can overcome their boredom.
B. It explains the function of boredom as a motivator for goal pursuits.
Read paragraph 12 below:
Liza: [trivially] Of course: that is his profession. It was just like learning to dance in the fashionable way: there was nothing more than that in it. But do you know what began my real education?
20. How does the word 'trivially' in paragraph 12 impact the meaning and tone of what Liza says?
A. by emphasizing that Liza mocks the people who tried to assist her
B. by emphasizing that Liza dismisses the significance of what Higgins taught her
C. by emphasizing that Liza speaks forcefully to make Pickering pay attention
D. by emphasizing that Liza uses sarcasm to show her anger and contempt
B. by emphasizing that Liza dismisses the significance of what Higgins taught her
How does the author's use of rhetoric in paragraph 14 introduce and advance her purpose?
A. Uses statistics to illustrate the complexities of native dialects
B. Uses emotional appeal to stress that preserving native dialects help create a more enlightened society
C. Uses hyperbole to exaggerate the disappearance of many native dialects
D. Uses expert testimony to justify a return to speaking native dialects in lieu of more dominant languages
B Emotional appeal
Read paragraphs 14-16 from Pygmalion by Bernard Shaw.
How does the interaction between Pickering and Liza in paragraphs 14-16 advance the plot?
A. by describing the informality of the interactions between Pickering and Liza
B. by summarizing Pickering's role in the experiment with Liza
C. by explaining the effect Pickering's treatment had on Liza's self-perception
D. by contrasting the friendliness of Pickering with Liza's standoffishness
C. by explaining the effect Pickering's treatment had on Liza's self-perception
What does the play excerpt suggest about American society in the early 20th century?
A. Women were expected to work and provide for themeselves financially.
B. Femininity was associated with traits like ambition and outspokenness.
C. Members of the elite class interacted regularly with people outside their stations.
D. Distinctions of class were based on people's manners and ways of speaking.
D. Distinctions of class were based on people's manners and ways of speaking.
13. How do the authors use rhetoric to advance their purpose?
A. The authors use references to a classic story to explain the psychology of boredom.
B. The authors use emotional appeal to support the position about the pleasures of boredom.
C. The authors use personal anecdotes to describe their own experiences with boredom.
D. The authors use convincing statements to encourage further scientific inquiry about boredom.
A. The authors use references to a classic story to explain the psychology of boredom.
Which quotation supports the inference that Liza feels she has been used by Higgins and Pickering?
A. "Oh, I'm only a squashed cabbage leaf." (par. 3)
B. "---but I owe so much to you that I should be very unhappy if you forgot me." (par.5)
C. "I know you are generous to everybody with money." (par. 7)
D. "You see it was so very difficult for me with the example of Professor Higgins always before me." (par. 7)
A. "Oh, I'm only a squashed cabbage leaf." (par. 3)
24. Which statement explains the change Liza perceives within herself?
A. Liza begins to feel immense shame for how she spoke and carried herself in the past.
B. Liza becomes a lady, not because of her proper manners but because of how she is treated.
C. Liza grows to resent the constraints put on women and the rules that dictate behavior.
D. Liza feels rewarded by her decision to partake in the experiment with Higgins and Pickering.
B. Liza becomes a lady, not because of her proper manners but because of how she is treated.
15. How is paragraph 3 significant to the authors' claims about boredom?
A. It provides examples of negative situations in which boredom may arise.
B. It expresses the level of difficulty in extracting oneself from a state of boredom.
C. It suggests solutions for how people can overcome their boredom.
D. It shows how boredom stimulates individuals to persevere for higher goals.
D. It shows how boredom stimulates individuals to persevere for higher goals.
PART A
22. How does the playwright develop tension throughout the excerpt?
A. by contrasting how Pickering and Higgins treat Liza
B. by describing Liza's lack of formal education
C. by emphasizing that Pickering and Higgins no longer need Liza
D. by revealing Liza's poor self-image
A. by contrasting how Pickering and Higgins treat Liza
How do the details in paragraph 4 develop the authors' claim that boredom is its own distinct emotional state?
A. by referencing familiar terminology (words) used to describe the state of boredom
B. by defining apathy as an intensified version of boredom
C. by contrasting the differences between boredom and apathy
D. by providing examples of how boredom damages personal relationships
C. by contrasting the differences between boredom and apathy
Read paragraph 5 below:
In times like these, it is immature-and incidentally, untrue-for anybody to brag that an unprepared America, single-handed, and with one hand tied behind its back, can hold off the whole world.
35. How does the figurative language in the paragraph help the speaker convey his message?
A. by portraying the country as ill-equipped to defend itself without adequate provisions
B. by illustrating the primitive nature of how most wars are fought
C. by exaggerating the military strength of the country
D. by comparing war to a boxing match in which everyone loses in the end
A. by portraying the country as ill-equipped to defend itself without adequate provisions
Part B
23. Which quotation supports the tension developed throughout the excerpt from the play in Part A (Question 22)?
A. "Will you drop me altogether now that the experiment is over, Colonel Pickering?" (par. 1)
B. "I was brought up to be just like him, unable to control myself, and using bad language on the slightest provocation." (par. 7)
C. "And there were a hundred little things you never noticed, because they came naturally to you. Things about standing up and taking off your hat and opening doors-". (par. 14)
D. "I shall always be a flower girl to Professor Higgins, because he always treats me as a flower gir, and always will; but I know I can be a lady to you, because you always treat me as a lady, and always will." (par. 18)
D. "I shall always be a flower girl to Professor Higgins, because he always treats me as a flower gir, and always will; but I know I can be a lady to you, because you always treat me as a lady, and always will." (par. 18)
In paragraph 5, how do the authors develop a connection between boredom and time perception?
A. by evaluating how boredom affects peoples' abilities to manage their time
B. by proving that boredom occurs approximately ten minutes after beginning a task
C. by showing how boredom makes people feel that time is passing slowly
D. by emphasizing that boredom typically exists for a short period of time
C. by showing how boredom makes people feel that time is passing slowly